Karma's Page Updates

I put up the training video on Karma's page, and I semi-fixed Karma's logo on the girls' page. I want to build some puppy training equipment to start Karma on in agility. This equipment isn't to teach her the obstacles. The goal is to teach her patience, to listen, and give her an idea of what "contacts" are. I may just lay bars on the ground and let her hop over them when she wants so she doesn't have to be taught too much when she starts actual "hard-core" training.

It's too hot to actually train in agility, but I do need to get out once in a while for about 10 minutes with each Ellie and Shaine to get them started back. I would really like to enter Shaine in the Shreveport trial the first weekend of December. I would also like to enter Ellie at the nationals in April. That's a good goal, though I'm not sure how far we'll get with it considering she's supposed to have a litter of puppies in March.

Karma's Training Progress and such

Karma has really come into her own since she has been here at Anu. She is so smart, willing, and eager that it is just a sinch to teach her anything. Of course, her love for Pup-Peroni is a plus as well. :)



She is really going to be outstanding in agility and obedience. I wish herding was easier to get to than what it is. Then I would be hoping to do that too, but it's going to be almost overwhelming to get her ring ready for Obed, Agility, & Conformation at once. Given, there's about a year's difference between her starting conformation and starting any performance...

I am not able to get PhotoShop back on the computer, thanks to a scratched CD. When we buy a new computer, we're either going to buy the program or make sure the computer already has it and video editing software attached. Maybe even wireless Internet access so I can upload at the nationals? We'll see. Where was I going with this? Basically, that's why the font size doesn't match on the girls' page. There's no way to compare and measure... And I'm pretty much just giving up on that for now. It looks great the way it is.

Have a great night every one! :)

Karma has arrived!

Turned out we didn't go to Little Rock for the show. Instead, we brought home a beautiful bi blue girl with beautiful blue eyes. Karma (Lacewood Bi Fate) has come to Texas from Tricia Harris of Lacewood Shelties. She is out of Ch Lacewood The Star Maker and Akadia Poetry Bi Moonlight. She turned 9 weeks old two days ago, and is the most beautiful little girl. She has a beautiful head and a gorgeous structure. She is learning the ropes of the pack, though she seems to have fit in very easily. It seems the one she is most fond of is Ellie. Maybe because they have similar color patterns, or that Ellie is the Alpha. Her attitude is what I expected, and she isn't even phased by my 2 year old son running around the house.

Entries & Possible Additions

The litter I hope to get a puppy from will be four weeks old tomorrow. She will either be a bi-black or bi-blue. I hope for the bi-blue, but I'm not holding my breath. More information later.

Our next show will be Little Rock. The Black and Tan people are building majors so I, of course, will be there. :) Luckily it only takes 4 to make a major for them.

Thanks for reading,
Jenn

Just Stuff

Ellie came into heat yesterday. She's actually a month early, but this will put her in heat again in early January. I am planning on having the rest of her genetic testing done (i.e. hips OFA, vWD, MDR1, and thyroid) by the beginning of December. This well allow me to get the results in before being bred. She is expected to be bred to Antone (MUSICAL ETERNITY OA OAJ) who is OFA excellent, CERF normal, and thyroid normal. Blues and tris are expected. If you would like to get more information about the litter or the breeders (Darlene Music of Musical Shelties and I), give me a shout.

We also hope to be adding two new members to our family. A sheltie puppy (not yet determined) and a baby girl who's due date is November 13Th.

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe 4Th of July.

Yours truly,
Jennifer Campbell

The Weekend

Yesterday and today went well. Last night, Luke stayed with Nana Dee, and Terry and I took Ellie, Shaine, and Loretta to Bringle Lake Park to work on some obedience. Ellie is perfecting her newly taught tricks and so we added in beg. We were also perfecting stay, heel, and recall. Terry really needed to work on Loretta to focus. Since she's a scent hound, she insisted her nose came attached to the ground. No... We fixed that before the end of the night. Terry was very impressed with my work. :)

Today we took Luke to see his PawPaw. PawPaw's girlfriend (MawMaw Linda) had recently added a new family member to her household. This little 7 week old wonder is named Pickles, and Pickles is an Aussie mix. She is a real cutie, and very sweet. She fell in love with Luke at first site (making me want an Aussie but we aren't getting into that right now).

After our visit with Linda, we had to pick up some dog food. TOTW is only found at Tractor Supply, so we had to get there before they closed. We bought all the dogs a bone. When we FINALLY got back home, we ended up relaxing, watching Big Fat Liar with Luke, and watching the dogs attack their bones. We hope Tuesday will be a good practice for conformation with Loretta. Erin (Shaine's newly-named handler) needs to practice with Shaine and Zen, so I hope we can make it out. Ellie needs to dust some of her skills off as we haven't worked with her since earlier this year.

Ellie's eyes will be CERF'd at our local show. YAY! That will be ONE less genetic test I will need to worry about. I hope to get the others before her next heat cycle. We may have puppies feet running around either the end of this year or beginning of next (depending on when she decides to come in heat). If I am lucky, I will be having another sheltie addition in the next couple of months. There are three potential litters to get a puppy from, so my fingers are crossed. ;)

Ellie Plays Dead

Earlier this evening, I decided to work with Ellie on some random pet tricks. Not knowing which tricks to start with, I just chose Beg and Stand on Two Legs. When we weren't really getting anywhere, I just decided to give up. While just playing around and scratching her chest, she brought her paw to hug my arm. *DING* Why not teach her to shake? So I worked on Shake and Play Dead. Shake she learned very quickly. I found the "button" I use to teach and remind her to pick up her paw. Play Dead was a little more tricky, and she is still reluctant to work on it. We were able to work on the tricks and put a name to the actions, so that's what we did! :)

Terry and Loretta took the opportunity to work on some obedience (and try out some tricks). After such a short time working and practicing together, this team is really starting to shine. Loretta now knows Sit and Down. She is even learning how to stay. Also, keep in mind, Terry has never attended an obedience class, so the method he is using is from simply watching others teach and natural ability. Of course, Loretta does help him out by being very smart. ;)

Toodles, folks! Have a great night.

Windbourne Hello Darlin'

She came in last night. Her call name is Loretta, and she was bred by Dick Myers, Brenda Myers, and Shelley Campbell. Her sire is Ch Windbourne Bently and Dam is CH Windbourne Champagne Girl. She was born November 14, 2009. Tomorrow, she will be 6 months old. Her aunt is Ch Silver Ridge Showtyme at Windbourne (Tess). Tess took BOB at Westminster earlier this year. Terry is SO excited, and I am also excited for him.

HAPPY B-DAY ELLIE!

Today was Ellie's 2ND Birthday. I cleaned up the house when I got home from work, then went straight to fixing an extensive dinner. We had two guests, my mom and Erin. Erin helped cook (mostly cooking ) and Terry bought a cake.


Above is a picture of Ellie's cake.

It was short notice, and it was basically that or iCarly. I did get one picture of Ellie with her piece of cake, but it came out blurry. I hope to get better pictures from Erin (she was kind enough to bring her camera). Don't worry, it was vanilla cake with a butter cream icing, and it was tasty.

On another note, Ellie has been doing very well in her obedience training. We are taking the next month off, but we will be starting back up in May. We have a couple of private lessons lined up in April that I need to save up for. Who knows, I may be showing Ellie AND Shaine in Agility AND Obedience next year at the 2011 American Shetland Sheepdog Association National

Good night all!

Jessica & Smudge, Jennifer & Ellie

WHEW! Training night was fun! But the drive was exhausting. Smudge had fun, though I was very surprised when the instructor put a prong collar on him. IMO, I wouldn't have put a collar like that on such a timid dog. I would have tried for a martingale style collar before a prong. If she would have put one on ANYONE, I would think it to be Ellie. SHE WAS NUTS! She couldn't keep still, and the instructor insisted it was Trip (I think that's what his name is) all over again. I don't know what Trip is, I never met him, and I didn't want to ask. I was afraid she would say he's a border collie. HAHA! I always said Ellie is the BC of the Shelties. We worked on healing, sits, 360 degree rights and lefts, as well as figure eights and stays.

Jessica and I both kept getting confused with our right and left. I did it first, then Jessica followed suit cause I was in front of her for the most part. I HAD SO MUCH FUN!!!!! I will definitely be going back. Well, duh... I did pay for the full four week class. I'll probably have to keep Ellie in for a couple more months before we can get "control" to set in. (X-D)

I hope to be able to start Ellie in Agility soon. I'm probably going to go up every other Sunday (starting probably in April) to Tyler and take private lessons with Terri. I need to get Shaine some training so we can hit some agility competitions in the fall. I really want to get the training started before it gets hot hot hot!

Anyway, Terry and I are looking around for a van or Suburban. The Suburban is the biggest SUV, but it has HORRIBLE gas mileage. I'd be happy with just a minivan. It's not like his B&T coonhounds will need much show equipment. Maybe just a table, and he'll probably be able to use the same stuff I have (of course not as much). However, we do need the room to get them up there in the first place.

Besides, my goal is to have Ellie's CD, RN, NA, and NAJ before her first litter next spring. I also need to get Ellie's testing done. I have the MDR1 test kit already, and I am in the midst of ordering a vWD test kit. Then my plans are to get her OFA done next month, then get her thyroid tested in May. By June, Texarkana's show has a CERF clinic. WOOT! It all falls into place. I think Darlene and I have already chosen a stud, but until everything is confirmed, I don't want to curse it by posting it. ;)

New update with training next week!